May 14, 2025

Crave, Eat, Repeat: How Processed Foods Rewire Your Brain - AI Podcast

7 minutes

Story at-a-glance

Just five days of ultraprocessed food consumption disrupts brain insulin function and appetite regulation, even without weight gain or blood sugar changes
Brain scans revealed damage persisted after returning to a normal diet and affected memory, decision-making and reward centers similarly to patterns seen in obesity
Environmental cues like food marketing, smells and packaging train your brain to eat regardless of actual hunger, overriding natural satiety signals
Ultraprocessed foods trigger dopamine pathways similar to addictive drugs, creating cravings even when you no longer enjoy the food
Reclaiming healthy eating patterns requires removing ultraprocessed foods, eating whole foods mindfully and incorporating daily movement to regulate appetite

...more

By Dr. Mercola

4.6

14391,439 ratings

May 14, 2025

7 minutes

Story at-a-glance

Just five days of ultraprocessed food consumption disrupts brain insulin function and appetite regulation, even without weight gain or blood sugar changes
Brain scans revealed damage persisted after returning to a normal diet and affected memory, decision-making and reward centers similarly to patterns seen in obesity
Environmental cues like food marketing, smells and packaging train your brain to eat regardless of actual hunger, overriding natural satiety signals
Ultraprocessed foods trigger dopamine pathways similar to addictive drugs, creating cravings even when you no longer enjoy the food
Reclaiming healthy eating patterns requires removing ultraprocessed foods, eating whole foods mindfully and incorporating daily movement to regulate appetite

...more